IMOS BA SOOP - Bio Acoustic Data from Austral Fisheries FV Southern Champion in the Indian Ocean from the 19th of January 2010 to the 24th of January 2010.

This Bio Acoustic data was collected in January 2010 under the IMOS Ship of Opportunity (SOOP) Bio Acoustic (BA) program on Austral Fisheries FV Southern Champion (IMOS platform code: VHGI).\n\nDeparted: Australia, January 19, 2010\nArrived: \t Australia, January 24, 2010\n\nBio acoustic signals allow understanding how mid-water prey species (known collectively as micronekton) such as small fish, squid, krill and jellyfish are distributed. \n\nMid-water prey form the core of the ocean food web, transferring energy from primary producers at the ocean surface to top predators such as tunas, billfish, sharks, seals and seabirds.The mass and distribution of micronekton reflects broad-scale patterns in the structure and function of the ocean, as well as the dynamics of marine ecosystems. \n\nAcoustic mapping is done from fishing and scientific vessels that are equipped with scientifically-calibrated 38 kHz digital echo-sounders that record a slice of acoustic backscatter to a depth of 1500 meters.

本生物声学（Bio Acoustic）数据集采集于2010年1月，依托澳大利亚海洋综合观测系统（Integrated Marine Observing System, IMOS）的机遇科考船（Ship of Opportunity, SOOP）生物声学（Bio Acoustic, BA）计划，由澳大利亚渔业公司“Southern Champion”号渔船（IMOS平台编码：VHGI）完成采集。

启航：澳大利亚，2010年1月19日
抵达：澳大利亚，2010年1月24日

生物声学信号可用于解析中层水域猎物类群（统称为小型中层游泳生物，micronekton）的分布格局，该类群涵盖小型鱼类、头足类、磷虾及水母等物种。

中层水域猎物类群是海洋食物网的核心组成部分，承担着将海洋表层初级生产者固定的能量传递至金枪鱼、旗鱼、鲨鱼、海豹与海鸟等顶级捕食者的关键功能。小型中层游泳生物的生物量与分布特征，可反映海洋生态系统结构与功能的宏观格局，同时能够体现海洋生态系统的动态变化过程。

本次声学测绘由配备经科学校准的38 kHz数字回声测深仪的渔业及科考船实施，该设备可记录水深达1500米处的声学后散射切片数据。